North Korea, long isolated from the world, is now in the spotlight for a lesser-known crisis: its illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. A new study by researchers at University College London (UCL) and partners has found that North Korea is not only ignoring its own conservation laws but is also profiting from the illegal trade of endangered species, putting regional biodiversity at serious risk.
The study is the first in-depth assessment of North Korea’s wildlife trade practices published in the journal Biological Conservation. It draws from extensive interviews conducted between 2021 and 2022 with North Korean defectors, including former hunters, middlemen, and buyers involved in the trade.
A Government-Backed Operation
While black market activity is common in North Korea, what makes this report particularly alarming is the direct involvement of the North Korean government. According to the study, the state receives wild animals and their body parts from hunters and local communities, often species that are legally protected under North Korea’s own environmental regulations.
These include long-tailed gorals, goat-like mammals native to mountainous regions, as well as Asiatic black bears and Eurasian otters. The products are reportedly used for clothing or sold to foreign buyers, primarily in China.
“Bear bile farming, the fur trade, and traditional medicine all play a role,” said the authors, noting that North Korea has operated bear farms since the 20th century. The practice, while profitable, has been widely condemned by conservation groups for both its cruelty and its impact on wild populations.
Black Market Driven by Hunger and Hardship
Alongside state-sanctioned operations, a thriving black market also plays a significant role. The collapse of North Korea’s economy in the 1990s and the devastating famine that followed, which killed an estimated 600,000 to one million people, forced many citizens to turn to hunting and wildlife trade as a means of survival.
Even today, while conditions have somewhat improved, the illegal trade has not disappeared.
“A hunter might simultaneously engage in both state-sanctioned and black market trade,” said lead author Dr. Joshua Elves-Powell from UCL Geography. “The skin of an animal like a red fox might be submitted to the state, but it might equally be sold to middlemen to smuggle across the North Korea-China border. The hunter could keep the meat—a valuable food resource—for their family or try to sell it locally.”
The study found that virtually all native mammal species larger than half a kilogram have been hunted for food, fur, or medicinal purposes. The sable, a small marten species prized for its luxurious fur, is now believed to be functionally extinct in North Korea.
Impact on Regional Biodiversity
The ecological consequences are dire. The researchers warned that if exploitation continues unchecked, North Korea could become a significant obstacle to regional conservation efforts.
“Amur tigers and Amur leopards, both critically endangered, are at risk if they cross into North Korea,” said the study. “And the country could act as a barrier to natural species migration between mainland Asia and the Korean Peninsula.”
The paper notes that even as Amur tiger populations are slowly recovering along the China-North Korea border, the risk of illegal hunting remains high if these animals wander into North Korean territory.
Calls for International Action
Given the complexity and opacity of North Korea’s political and economic systems, the study calls for a diplomatic approach, urging China to play a more active role.
“China is the main international market for North Korean wildlife products,” said Dr. Elves-Powell. “It is essential that China steps up its efforts to curb demand and put pressure on North Korea to comply with domestic and international wildlife protection laws.”
Some of the trade activities reportedly breach international agreements such as CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2397, which prohibits food exports from North Korea.
A Hidden Crisis in Urgent Need of Global Attention
While the world’s focus often falls on North Korea’s military ambitions and nuclear program, this study highlights a silent ecological emergency unfolding within its borders.
The researchers hope their findings will prompt greater international scrutiny and ultimately, action, to protect endangered wildlife before it’s too late.
